A
"Taste" of Zambia
- Zambia has one of the
world's richest copper deposits.
- Eight out of ten Zambian
workers are farmers.
- Most tend their own land,
using hand hoes to cultivate corn and other food crops on village
plots.
Banyoka
Origin
Though associated with Zambia, the game was
played by the Bemba tribe who lived in what is now both Zambia and
the southern part of Zaire. Banyoka means "the snakes". The game
probably developed from observing these creatures roaming the
region.
How to Play
- Choose a play area that is a bit of an
obstacle course, with bushes and large rocks. For younger players,
it's probably best to have the starting point be atop a hill. You
can create an obstacle course using toys, pillows, boxes, and
cartons.
- The players divide into two groups, each
group havng at least six players.
- Each group becomes a "Snake" by the
players sitting one behind the other on the ground, legs spread
and hands placed on the shoulders of the player in front, or arms
wrapped around the waist.
- Each snake moves forward by the players
swaying their bodies back and forth. The snake can sing a
song.
- The object of the snake is to reach a
designated finish line first. But the real fun of the game is to
maneuver around bushes, rocks, and/ or other objects, to "slither"
around and over them while remaining connected to each
other.
- The game can also be played with one
snake. The competitive aspect is gone, replaced by a
follow-the-leader quality. The "head" of the snake decides the
direction, turning one way then another and choosing which
obstacles to go across or around. If the line is long enough, it's
fun for players to deal with a new obstacle or change of direction
while players farther behind are still coping with the previous
one.
Source:
Hopson, Dr.
Darlene Powell, Hopson, Dr. Derek S., and Clavin, Thomas. "Juba This
and Juba That" Simmon and Schuster, 1996. p.
20
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